If you want point and shoots then the Canon Ixus range is really nice and not that much if you want to spend a bit more and move into bridge cameras and basic SLRs the the Panasonic Lumix is cool as is all of the Canon EOS range.

If you have lots to spend Canon 5D MkII or one of the Nikon SLRs are all really really good.

I had Canon G-12 for about a year and it was amazing. Then I sold it and got canon rebel t2i and I miss my G-12 dearly Most likely will be switching to g1x. I like t2i’s quality but it’s a big and heavy camera and I miss the portability of the G line.

i startd with sony nex 5, a smart enough camera to give th basics of photography i upgraded to canon 1ds mark iii i got it used and crashd on me after 1mnth of use, it went 4 a repair now back to my sony.
I miss my 1ds but if i had gud enough cash i would have gone 4 the canon 1D x.